Lecornu to push France’s budget through without a parliamentary vote

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on Monday that he will force France’s long‑awaited national budget through the lower house of Parliament without a vote, invoking Article 49.3 of the Constitution and prompting opposition lawmakers to plan no‑confidence motions. The move follows more than four months of failed negotiations in a fractured Parliament where Mr.

Lecornu’s centrist coalition lacks a majority. He said the government would act "with some regret and slight bitterness" and that the step was necessary to adopt a budget addressing the country’s deficit; France has been without an official budget since the beginning of the month.

Using Article 49.3 opens the government to a vote of no confidence, and opposition leaders from the far left and far right said they would introduce motions. Mathilde Panot of France Unbowed called the budget law "miserable," and Marine Le Pen described the decision as "irresponsible." The Socialists, who hold the balance of power in Parliament, said they would not support an effort to topple the government, making Mr.

Lecornu’s immediate downfall unlikely. The proposed budget includes concessions to the Socialist program, such as greater bonuses for low‑income workers, more public housing and affordable student meals, and a tax on very large French companies. Motions of no confidence would set the stage for a vote later in the week; if Mr.

Key Topics

Politics, Sébastien Lecornu, France, Socialist Party, France Unbowed, Marine Le Pen